Robert Edward Hurley

A Warsaw man accused of murdering his roommate has entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.

Robert Hurley, 54, is charged with a single count of murder for the March 3 strangulation death of Lionel Dale King, 51. The two men resided at Lot 34 in Hideaway Hills where Hurley allegedly got into an argument with King and strangled him with some type of cord. (See story)

Hurley was arraigned in Kosciusko County Circuit Court on March 4 where he told Judge Mike Reed, “I have a lot of medications and mental stuff. I take a lot of medications; I’m bipolar …” He also disclosed that he is currently also charged with three criminal domestic battery charges that were filed in October 2012.

Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department deputies arrested Hurley the day of the murder at the residence without incident. Police were called to the home for a welfare check after Hurley contacted a family member regarding his involvement in the strangulation earlier in the day.

The class A felony murder charge carries a penalty of 45 to 65 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $10,000.

Hurley is due back in court Thursday for a pre-trial conference. He remains in the Kosciusko County Jail.